Call for PAGI & Robert Oakley Member Advocacy Award Nominations

AALL’s Government Relations Committee is seeking nominations for the 2009 Public Access to Government Information Award and the Robert L. Oakley Member Advocacy Award. Both awards are administered by the Government Relations Committee in coordination with the AALL Awards Committee. Please send your nominations directly to me at SMirsky@cslib.org by February 28, 2009.

AALL Public Access to Government Information (PAGI) Award (http://aallnet.org/about/award_information_application.asp)

AALL has given a PAGI Award since 1999 to recognize individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to protect and promote greater public access to government information. The 2008 PAGI Award went to OMB Watch, led by Executive Director Gary Bass, for their efforts to promote greater government transparency and accountability. Recipients of this award may be any individual or organization. Members of the Government Relations Office of AALL are not eligible. Judging criteria:

• A contribution that significantly improves public access to government information, thereby increasing the public’s knowledge about the workings of government. The award is given in accordance with AALL’s mission to provide leadership in the field of legal information and to promote equal access to government information. The award will reflect this by honoring the achievements of those who have championed public access.
• The extent to which the individual or organization has had a positive impact on protecting and promoting public access to governmental information.
• The extent to which the effort advances the AALL mission and Government Relations Policy.

AALL Robert L. Oakley Member Advocacy Award (http://aallnet.org/about/award_oakley.asp)

Established in 2008, this new award is given to recognize an AALL member who has been an outstanding advocate and has contributed significantly to the AALL policy agenda at the federal, state, local, or international level. The award honors the memory of Robert L. Oakley, AALL’s Washington affairs representative (1989 - 2007). Members of AALL, with the exception of current members of the Government Relations Committee, are eligible for this award. Nominees must have made a significant contribution to the advocacy agenda of the Association.

Judging Criteria:

• A significant contribution to the advocacy agenda of the Association. The award is given in accordance with AALL’s mission to provide leadership in the field of legal information and to promote equal access to government information. The award will reflect this by honoring the achievements of those who have been especially energetic or effective advocates of this mission.
• The extent to which the individual has been an active advocate for law libraries and legal information at the federal, state, or local level.
• The extent to which the advocacy advances the AALL mission and Government Relations Policy (www.aallnet.org/about/policy_government.asp).

Both awards will be presented during the Annual Legislative and Regulatory Update (Program H5) to be held on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at the AALL Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.